Sam Hewitt

  • Triumph TR6: The great escape artist

    Triumph TR6: The great escape artist

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    Words: Frank Melling Photos: Carol Melling The TR6 was born for the USA and enjoyed its moment of glory in an American movie. It was the Americans who pressed Triumph for a bigger capacity machine than the 500 twins and the Meriden factory was happy to supply the 650 Thunderbird in 1949. The Thunderbird was…

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  • ROYAL ENFIELD DOWN TO THEIR LAST 500 BULLETS

    ROYAL ENFIELD DOWN TO THEIR LAST 500 BULLETS

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    ROYAL ENFIELD’S SINGLE-CYLINDER Classic and Bullet 500cc engine, originally launched in 2009, is being retired from production. The unit construction engine was at the centre of Royal Enfield’s success in Europe and North America but is now being eclipsed by the new 650 twin which has been winning plaudits across the world, as has the…

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  • Inside Classic Bike Guide’s March issue…

    Inside Classic Bike Guide’s March issue…

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    We discover a Ducati dream in the brand new March issue of Classic Bike Guide magazine – on sale now!

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  • Norton Motorcyles collapse

    Norton Motorcyles collapse

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    British motorcycle maker Norton Motorcycles has gone into administration, following its struggle to pay a £300,000 tax bill – and as a result, the Leicestershire-based factory has faced a winding-up order from the HRMC offices over the amounts it owes. It’s surprising, because Norton has been very busy over the past three years – acquiring…

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  • Appreciation for the Suzuki B120

    Appreciation for the Suzuki B120

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    I enjoyed the recent article about the Suzuki B120, I have owned one for three years and love it. I had the engine rebuilt by Martin at Slipstream Tuning and have bought many items on eBay, including NOS hubs, carb covers and wing mirrors. Over the winter I will rebuild the wheels with stainless steel…

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  • More wheel building advice

    More wheel building advice

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    I have just read the August issue of CBG, and found the wheel building section of particular interest. I have built and repaired wheels for many years, learning from my brother Arthur back in the Fifties. He was a wheelbuilder at Brown Brothers in north London but at weekends he would do his private jobs…

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  • TAKE YOUR CLASSIC ON A TROPHY-WINNING ROAD TRIP

    TAKE YOUR CLASSIC ON A TROPHY-WINNING ROAD TRIP

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    DO YOU WANT to challenge your classic this summer? The National Road Rally on July 4/5 is a navigational scatter rally organised in conjunction with the ACU and the BMF. The event is not a race and each rider follows their own route, visiting different controls around the country, the only time stipulation is that…

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  • YOUR OLD GEAR COULD HELPTHE NMM

    YOUR OLD GEAR COULD HELPTHE NMM

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    THE NATIONAL MOTORCYCLE MUSEUM wants your old clobber! The museum has installed a new ‘dressing up’ corner in the foyer, where young and not-so-young visitors can try out gear from yesteryear. Any clothing, especially period items, would be greatly appreciated. The museum is particularly keen on acquiring donations of suitable motorcycle jackets, helmets, boots and…

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  • COLIN SEELEY:  RACING LEGEND AND GENIUS FRAME DESIGNER

    COLIN SEELEY: RACING LEGEND AND GENIUS FRAME DESIGNER

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    BRITISH MOTORCYCLE RACING legend Colin Seeley has died at the age of 84. Starting out as an apprentice mechanic at 14, he started his own business at 18 and was an AJS dealer at 20. He then began racing, coming sixth in the TT in 1961 on a Matchless G50 powered outfit. As a sidecar…

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  • NEW PRE-UNIT ENGINES

    NEW PRE-UNIT ENGINES

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    WILTSHIRE-BASED LAMB ENGINEERING has released details of a brand-new Triumph twin-based engine. The pre-unit engine will feature a top end machined from aluminium billet on aftermarket crankcases. The new engines have been fitted with a 270-degree crank with new camshafts all designed by Larry from Lamb Engineering. “It started when a customer came in with…

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